If you returned a unit in that condition for 'repair' under guarantee (which Humax and all other freesat manufacturers don't support anyway) then first off they would have to restore the unit to original condition, which would be a chargeable job - and could easily exceed the cost of the unit.

In the event of Freesat the unit would go back for replacement, and wouldn't qualify for that if it's been modified in any way.

I think it's ludicrous to have a fixed moulded plug, and then claim it voids the warranty or that it's a fault if not original.
These devices are almost ALWAYS routed somewhere hard to reach in cabinets and units. Mine is balanced on top of an amplifier because the plug won't go down the hole of my brick tv stand.
They should have stuck a cheap figure-8 socket on the back like all other good cheap systems. What would it seriously cost, another £1?

I had the same issue with a microwave oven recently. I chopped the plug and fitted a regular one instead.

I really won't believe you know what you are talking about unless someone gets confirmation from TS.

The main flaw in your argument is that servicing is done by qualified professionals who can, duh, check the plug wiring.

If this is indeed a health and safety issue then loads of elderly people, disabled and arthritis sufferers have unwittingly lost the warranty on their electrical appliances then, as many of them have fitted these.....

http://www.mobilitybuddy.co.uk/house...-supagrip-plug

Seems to me that leaving people unable to unplug appliances at night would be more of a potential fire hazard............so where does 'safety' apply in these cases!

You can believe what you like, but I'm a professional who actually does the repairs, and a manufacturers employee (bobcat) has also confirmed it. I'm also dubious that trading standards would know the first thing about it, in my experience (from both sides) they are pretty useless


What's your problem? - at no time have I ever suggested the plug wiring is any concern. I'll explain simply again for you:

THE MAINS LEAD AND PLUG IS A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT - CHOPPING THE PLUG OFF DESTROYS THE UNITS SAFETY CERTIFICATION.

A job I have to do this weekend , replacing the microwave , the old one is about 5 years old and has a removable plug , the new one has a moulded plug

I will drill the hole larger in the kitchen shelf unit to pass the plug through rather than chop the plug and face grief if it goes tits up under warranty

Even worse - it comes supplied with a 13 amp fuse, which is far too large for most household appliances - what's the bet that 99% of these fitted to lights, are never switched for a 3A plug?

That's one of the main reasons for the introduction of moulded ready fitted plugs.

Mind you, bear in mind, that the UK are the only country to have fused plugs - so other countries have thick copper wire in place of the fuse

As far as I'm aware, the fuse in the plug is only intended to protect the lead from over heating, not to protect the internal equipment itself. If the equipment needs over-current protection, a seperate fuse (or other device) inside the box is required.

cut to the bone? and charging £300? shome mishtake! - fit a figure of 8 lead - costs pence in the sort of quantities these manufacturers are buying, also makes it cheaper to produce for different countries.

Sure, it costs pence, but at the quantities they are making, it makes a noticeable difference to the bottom line. Remember some American airline that saved a significant amount (£40k from memory?) by removing one olive from each first class salad? Or why do you think car manufacturers only provide space-saver spare tyres, when there is room for a full tyre?

Also, I think I read somewhere on here, that a detachable power cord means two devices to test for safety etc - a moulded plug counts as part of the same device.

Such as ?

The only time I have seen them fitted is due to the lack of space

I have 1 fitted as a spare on my Peugeot 406 estate with the 7 seater conversion , its never ever been used and never will be if I can help it .

Peugeot 206 has one, even though it's slung under the boot in a cradle. I discovered this on the M4 one Friday night when driving from London to Somerset. Not fun.

Peugeot 308 has one, in the boot, but there is ample space in the cut-out in the base of the boot for a full size.

I have been told by a mechanic that the reason is purely cost.

Sadly for you it's their opinion that actually counts.

You may be very impressed with your own opinion but a company is more likely to want to want to keep on the right side of TS than someone who repairs boxes.


When you have a weak case, shouting only draws attention to it.

Use your noggin for a moment.

So it invalidate some safety certification.

Are you saying that no repairman is able to operate on anything without a valid safety certification?

Come on, get real!

Operating equipment with the casing removed is far more dangerous than operating equipment with a changed plug. Any service personel who weren't prepared to do that would be more useless than a chocolate teapot.

If you are so namby pamby I pity your customers.

going way off topic , are you sure the car didn't have alloys on though , I can see the £ saving in not supplying a full size alloy but surely the odd sized space saver wheel and tyre is not as cost effective to supply due to the volumes when compared to fitting a full sized steel wheel that matches the other 4 .

1--A small child finding a loose figure of 8 plug can decide that it looks like liquorice & try chewing it !
Or (s)he could insert metal into it! (paper-clip, nail, screw, fork.....)

I think that they should be banned !
Thats the Figure of 8s not the children.

2--My shelving has holes big enough for scart leads or French 3 pole plugs but not the UK 13 amp plug.
The HDR plug goes via a UK/French adapter into a multi-socket extension lead with 3-pole lightening protection & an easily reached dipole switch.
Why would anyone want to protect several hundred pounds worth of TV, HDR, DVD recorder etc with less?

3--The UK fused plug design is past its smell-by date.
You can fit an oversized replacement fuse.
If there is a short to earth & the fuse blows, you can still get electrocuted if the socket has reversed polarity.
OK wrong fuses & wrong polarity are mistakes but if a mistake can be made then it will be made, eventually.
Sod's law will never be repealed!

The rest of Europe has moved to dipole MCB protection, & its time the UK caught up.
We used to lead the world in engineering, what happened?

End of rant.

David

No it's not, and that's a ludicrous statement - it's the courts opinion that matters, TS have no say in the matter.


If the manufacturer wants to do that, then it's up to them - but you're still assuming TS will advise someone that unauthorised modification doesn't invalidate the warrany.


Only way to get the attention of someone who completely ignores the reasons of the thread and makes their own up.


Again, you're just making things up, I've never said that, no one here has ever said that - a box MUST be in original condition to maintain it's certification - so any warranty repair would require that doing as well, which would be a chargeable repair, and could cost more than the box did.

Yep its always a piece of card over the plug terminals itself.

As Tern said, what kind of idiot thought it was necessary to waste money on a plastic terminal protector. How many people ever suffered serious injuries from a plug when unpacking the box????

Bit like that now, the government wants to ban skiing without helmets after Natasha Richardson's death.

I mean god how did we all live 10 years ago? Its a miracle anyone's alive to post on these forums given the lack of health and safety. The states just gone way too far over here. I mean balloon shapers banned from kiddies parties in case someone has a latex allergy, clowns banned from blowing bubbles in case someone slips on residue on the floor.

The UK is the laughing stock of the world.

Anyway I diverge.

The entire suggestion that a non factory fitted plug is a health and safety hazard to a repairer is an absolute joke. Provided the wires are firmly in the plug, even if it was wired improperly, there's still only going to be current in the same places in the box, there would be current anyway and if a technician touches a live part of the transformer are we really going to blame the plug?

I think you meant dual pole RCD protection and anyone who's had their house (properly) rewired in about the last 10 years in the UK will, or at least should, have a consumer box with exactly this protecting the whole house. The fuse in the plug is now additional.

Again, why do people keep repeating this nonsense?.

There has been no suggestion in this thread about any H&S concerns whatsoever - and it's completely irrelevant.

It is easy to understand why consumers might not like this.

However, THIS IS REALITY confirmed and by a professional repairer and a manufacturer.

So I think it is time to move on

You obviously didn't read BobCat's comment:

I have asked for Figure of 8 connectors before, but for a variety of reasons they are not preferable. This is the decision I am afraid.

Additionally, if someone repairs something or replaces the plug, have they electrically tested it? I have seen many hazards from people thinking they know how to wire a plug. Can we take that chance? The simple answer is: no.

Fair enough, that makes sense. But a sensible solution would be to visually inspect the wiring of the plug and perform the electrical test before proceding. A matter of a few minutes, if that. Needlessly replacing the lead is overkill. If it should be the manufacturer's preferred procedure, then that is their choice. It is not a valid reason to void the warranty for an unrelated fault.

Thanks for the advice folks didnt think this would go on for so long any way he changed the plug as he didnt fancy making the hole bigger on his unit it was either the hdr £250 or the unit £600 so the hdr lost but its sorted now.